APART

Gerald and Hazel were eating dinner in the dining room, a quiet and cozy space with a wooden table, a chandelier and a fireplace.

They ate in silence, avoiding eye contact and making small talk about the weather and Arin who was still in jail. Gerald noticed that Hazel seemed distracted and tense as they spoke. He wondered if she was hiding something from him again like the last time. He decided to try to break the ice and make her smile and also follow the lawyers instructions.

"So, how was your day?" he asked casually.

Hazel looked up from her plate and forced a smile. "It was fine," she said. "Busy as usual. I was on a video just before you arrived."

"Anything interesting happen?" Gerald probed.

Hazel shook her head. "No, not really."

Gerald frowned. He sensed that she was lying, but he didn't want to push her too hard. He changed the topic.

"I heard that there's a new movie playing at the theater," he said. "Do you want to go see it tomorrow night? It's a weekend by the way